Marches, rallies, an initiative to raise the minimum wage, and more across Washington State on Thursday, April 14th

Today: baristas, grocery store workers, homecare workers, fast food workers, nursing home workers, janitors, adjunct professors, student workers, and other workers will take part in a national day of action to raise the alarm on workers rights, poverty wages, and efforts to turn back the clock on progress.

It all culminates in a rally for secure scheduling at the 1st & Yesler Starbucks in Seattle featuring Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and SEIU 775NW President David Rolf. The sign alone is worth seeing in person, no?

Schedule of marches & rallies in Seattle today

11:00 • CAL ANDERSON PARKE DENNY WAY & NAGLE PL, SEATTLE

Raise the alarm on non-union store New Seasons Market: Property investment firm Gerding Edlen plans to bring New Seasons Market to the Capitol Hill light rail station despite its terrible health and safety record and poor benefits it offers employees. Join us to demand a local, union grocery store at the light rail station.

12:30 • SEATTLE UNIVERSITY12TH AVE & E COLUMBIA ST, SEATTLE

Raise the alarm on workers' rights at Seattle University: Adjuncts and supporters will hold a one-day fast and lead a major demonstration at the university Thursday. Underpaid adjuncts are fasting to raise the alarm that SU adjunct faculty are denied living wages, job security and the right to form a union.

1:30 PM • WELLS FARGO REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS999 THIRD AVE, SEATTLE

Raise the alarm on the extreme agenda of the Freedom Foundation and its links to Wells Fargo: A top regional Wells Fargo executive is a key funder of the Freedom Foundation, an extreme right-wing group which opposes the minimum wage, attacks unions, and otherwise tries to block workers rights.

2:00 PM • STARBUCKS1ST & YESLER, SEATTLE

Raise the alarm about insecure schedules and poverty wages: It all comes together at Starbucks, where baristas have been leading the fight for secure schedules in Seattle. Despite public commitments by the company to improve scheduling practices, baristas continue to struggle with unpredictable, unstable schedules, and executives have failed to meet with workers to discuss their concerns — but the City Council is moving for action.

In Yakima

11:00 AM • MILLENNIUM PLAZA (22 S 3rd St, Yakima)22 S 3RD ST, YAKIMA

Nursing home workers and child care workers in Central Washington raise the alarm with a rally and press conference on poverty wages & workers rights in their industries.

Signature gathering across the state for a $13.50 minimum wage

Workers will also gather in more than a dozen locations across the state to gather signatures for Initiative 1433, which will raise the state's minimum wage to $13.50 an hour and ensure paid sick days for the 1 million worker in our state who don't have them. There will be a brief on-site training on the initiative and the process before workers head out to gather signatures and get on the ballot. Locations include:

Auburn4 pm: Auburn Transit Center, 101 15th Ave NE, Auburn

Federal Way11am - 2pm: McDonalds, 2302 South 320th, Federal Way

Mt Vernon10 am - 2pm: Skagit Community College (Gary Knutzen Cardinal Center), 2405 East College Way

April 14th is a nationwide day of action for living wages & workers rights. Events in Seattle and across Washington State have been organized by a coalition including NW Accountability Project; OneAmerica; Raise Up Washington; SEIU Locals 6, 775NW, 925, and 1199NW; Teamsters 117, UAW 4121; UFCW 21; Working Washington; and other groups.

About Working Washington: Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work. More info…

Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work.

Working Washington fast food strikers sparked the fight that won Seattle's landmark $15 minimum wage. We drove Amazon to sever ties with right-wing lobby group ALEC and improve conditions in their sweatshop warehouses. And we helped lead the winning campaign in SeaTac for a $15 living wage.